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View From the Couch for week of March 3

‘Wreck-It Ralph' and ‘Red Dawn' are among new releases

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Published: March 4, 2013

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New releases

“Wreck-It Ralph”: A video-game villain (voice of John C. Reilly) escapes from the contest to prove he's not such a bad guy — and unwittingly sets loose a much greater danger, which he then has to recapture in this fanciful, animated Disney fantasy. There are plenty of fun nods to classic characters as Ralph attempts to show he's not just the nemesis of the more-embraced Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer, “30 Rock”). DVD extras: “making-of” documentary; deleted and alternate scenes; “Paperman” short subject; video-game commercials. (PG: V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)

“Red Dawn”: Foreign invaders turn young Americans into freedom fighters in this less-effective remake of the 1984 adventure, delayed from release long enough by MGM's financial troubles for stars Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson to have had respective successes with “Thor” and “The Hunger Games” first (though they made this before those). Interestingly, the nationality of the enemies was altered digitally after filming, so as not to upset some overseas exhibitors. (PG-13: P, V) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)

“The Intouchables”: Based on a true story, this seriocomic French film by writer-directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano earned international raves for its two stars, veteran actor Francois Cluzet as a rich aristocrat suddenly incapacitated while paragliding and Omar Sy as the much younger and more street-wise fellow hired to care for him. DVD extras: deleted scenes. (R: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)

“Playing for Keeps”: Gerard Butler's charisma does much — if ultimately not enough overall — for this comedy-drama, as he plays a former soccer star whose personal and professional lives have taken downturns. He tries to put both back on track as he attempts to win back his ex-wife (Jessica Biel) while becoming the coach of his son's sports team. DVD extras: two “making-of” documentaries; deleted scenes. (PG-13: AS, P) (Also on Blu-ray and On Demand)